diff --git a/Tactical/Item Types.h b/Tactical/Item Types.h
index 78f1f5d5..37ba1be2 100644
--- a/Tactical/Item Types.h	
+++ b/Tactical/Item Types.h	
@@ -871,6 +871,7 @@ extern OBJECTTYPE gTempObject;
 #define ITEM_fProvidesRobotCamo			0x0000010000000000		// rftr: robot attachments
 #define ITEM_fProvidesRobotNightVision	0x0000020000000000		// rftr: robot attachments
 #define ITEM_fProvidesRobotLaserBonus	0x0000040000000000		// rftr: robot attachments
+#define ITEM_FoodSystemExclusive	    0x0000080000000000		// kitty: item exclusively available with food feature
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/Tactical/Items.cpp b/Tactical/Items.cpp
index 10ac4652..5dd52f89 100644
--- a/Tactical/Items.cpp
+++ b/Tactical/Items.cpp
@@ -1271,12 +1271,14 @@ BOOLEAN ItemIsLegal( UINT16 usItemIndex, BOOLEAN fIgnoreCoolness )
 	if ( Item[usItemIndex].ubCoolness == 0 && !fIgnoreCoolness )
 		return FALSE;
 
-	// silversurfer: no food items if the food system is off
-	if ( !UsingFoodSystem() && Item[ usItemIndex ].foodtype > 0 )
+
+	// kitty: no food items if the food system is off
+	// whether the item is exclusive is defined by tag
+	// replaced previous system which used Item[usItemIndex].foodtype > 0 as criteria
+	// that also restricted dual use items (i.e. drugs that also have a foodtype, like coffee, etc.)
+	if (!gGameExternalOptions.fFoodSystem && ItemIsOnlyInFood(usItemIndex))
 	{
-		// Only restrict food for now. Water can be used to replenish lost energy so it is useful even without the food system.
-		if ( Food[Item[usItemIndex].foodtype].bFoodPoints > 0 )
-			return FALSE;
+		return FALSE;
 	}
 
 	// kitty: no disease items if the disease system is off
@@ -16128,3 +16130,4 @@ BOOLEAN ItemIsOnlyInDisease(UINT16 usItem) { return HasItemFlag2(usItem, ITEM_Di
 BOOLEAN ItemProvidesRobotCamo(UINT16 usItem) { return HasItemFlag2(usItem, ITEM_fProvidesRobotCamo); }
 BOOLEAN ItemProvidesRobotNightvision(UINT16 usItem) { return HasItemFlag2(usItem, ITEM_fProvidesRobotNightVision); }
 BOOLEAN ItemProvidesRobotLaserBonus(UINT16 usItem) { return HasItemFlag2(usItem, ITEM_fProvidesRobotLaserBonus); }
+BOOLEAN ItemIsOnlyInFood(UINT16 usItem) { return HasItemFlag2(usItem, ITEM_FoodSystemExclusive); }
diff --git a/Tactical/Items.h b/Tactical/Items.h
index 6aa26659..cf58ac72 100644
--- a/Tactical/Items.h
+++ b/Tactical/Items.h
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ BOOLEAN ItemIsOnlyInDisease(UINT16 usItem);
 BOOLEAN ItemProvidesRobotCamo(UINT16 usItem);
 BOOLEAN ItemProvidesRobotNightvision(UINT16 usItem);
 BOOLEAN ItemProvidesRobotLaserBonus(UINT16 usItem);
+BOOLEAN ItemIsOnlyInFood(UINT16 usItem);
 
 //Existing functions without header def's, added them here, just incase I'll need to call
 //them from the editor.
diff --git a/Utils/XML_Items.cpp b/Utils/XML_Items.cpp
index 412a96fa..d1ecf8a6 100644
--- a/Utils/XML_Items.cpp
+++ b/Utils/XML_Items.cpp
@@ -1592,6 +1592,12 @@ itemEndElementHandle(void *userData, const XML_Char *name)
 			pData->curElement = ELEMENT;
 			pData->curItem.iTransportGroupMaxProgress = (INT8)atoi(pData->szCharData);
 		}
+        else if (strcmp(name, "FoodSystemExclusive") == 0)
+		{
+		    pData->curElement = ELEMENT;
+			if ((BOOLEAN)atol(pData->szCharData))
+				pData->curItem.usItemFlag2 |= ITEM_FoodSystemExclusive;
+		}
 
 		--pData->maxReadDepth;
 	}
@@ -2225,6 +2231,7 @@ BOOLEAN WriteItemStats()
 			if (ItemProvidesRobotNightvision(cnt))			FilePrintf(hFile, "\t\t<ProvidesRobotNightVision>%d</ProvidesRobotNightVision>\r\n", 1);
 			if (ItemProvidesRobotLaserBonus(cnt))			FilePrintf(hFile, "\t\t<ProvidesRobotLaserBonus>%d</ProvidesRobotLaserBonus>\r\n", 1);
 			if (ItemIsOnlyInDisease(cnt))					FilePrintf(hFile, "\t\t<DiseaseSystemExclusive>%d</DiseaseSystemExclusive>\r\n", 1);
+			if (ItemIsOnlyInFood(cnt))					    FilePrintf(hFile, "\t\t<FoodSystemExclusive>%d</FoodSystemExclusive>\r\n", 1);
 
 			FilePrintf(hFile,"\t</ITEM>\r\n");
 		}